Packaging machinery for textile ribbons and the like



Feb. 14, 1961 E. FLLER ETAL 2,971,244

PACKAGING MACHINERY FOR TEXTILE RIBBONS AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 50,1958 ATT'YS Urlitedtatssftet 053C@ PACKAGNG MACHINERY FOR TEXTILERIBBONS AND THE LIKE Ernst Fller, Ubcrnburg (Main), and Hans Matlok,Aschaffenburg (Main), Germany, assignors to VereinigteGlanzstotf-Fabriken A.G., Wuppertal-Elberfeld, Germany Filed Sept. 30,1958, Ser. No. 764,391

Claims priority, application Germany Oct. 2, 1957 12 Claims. (Cl.253-21) This invention, in general, relates to machinery for packagingtextile ribbons and similar ribbon-like articles in parallelepipedreceptacles such as carbons, boxes and the like. 4More particularly, theinvention relates to packaging machinery in which ribbon-like articlesare packaged in layers` without twist to the ribbon-like article.

During the manufacture of filaments or fibers, the lilaments or fibersare often in the form of a ribbon or composed of many filaments orfibers. This ribbon form is a transitional intermediate between theinitial spinning or processing stage for the fibers or filaments and thefinal processing therefrom in the form of textiles or other ultimateproducts. It is often desirable to pack these ribbons in cartons forshipment to a textile manufacturer or the like.

One known method for packaging textile ribbo-ns is to employdistributing tunnels into which is pumped compressed `air. The threadand ribbon form is introduced into the distributing tunnels and moved bythe air tiowing through the tunnels. For packaging, the exit end of thedistributing tunnels are moved in a controlled pattern immediately abovea stationary receptacle position underneath in order to lay the ribbonsin layers. This type of packaging device has not proven to besatisfactory because it is not possible to ll the entire volume in theparallelepiped receptacle-particularly along the inside walls thereof.The empty spaces left in the receptacle permitted shifting of theribbons and led to tangling there- `of during shipment of thereceptacles. Also, the swinging distributing funnel had anotherdisadvantage in that it required a considerable structural height-makingaccessibility and maintenance of the installation difficult.

`Textile ribbon packaging machinery has also been proposed wherein thereceptacles arel mounted on eccentri- -cally-mounted, rotatingplates. Bymeans of parallel guides, these packaging machines distribute the`textile ribbons in a circular manner without imparting 'twist thereto.While these packaging machines provided some improvements in thepackaging of textile ribbons, they were nonetheless unsuitablefordepositing the textile rib- ;bons in parallelepiped receptacles inhorizontal layers. For example, delicate ribbons, such as ribbons oftorn, untwisted, crimped fibers became so entangled in thereceptaclethat they could not be subsequently drawn out -of thereceptacle and immediately used as slubbing. lt wouldbe of considerableadvantage to be able to draw `:the `packaged `ribbons from the container`and immediately use `the ribbon, because it would save the processorofftheiibers a renewed run through spinning mill preparatonwmachinesbefore` feeding the ribbon to spinning "machines .'Thisjinvention "isprimarily directed to improvements `in `machirnsry `for `packagingtextile ribbons and the like in ,parallelepiped receptacles bydistributing the ribbons fduringkthepackaging operationin a plurality ofsuperd horizontal rows. In accordance with uthe inventhefribbons arepackaged s o as to lill substantially *"ntxrely the volume of thereceptacle and thereby pre- Patented Feb. 14, 1961 vent shifting of theribbons with ensuing tangling during shipment and further handling ofthe packaged article.

To achieve this and other objectives of the invention, the textileribbon packaging machine comprises the combination of a pair ofcooperating feed rollers positioned above the parallelepiped receptacle.The receptacle rests on a platform which is reciprocated in onedirection, while simultaneously being reciprocated at a slower `rate ina direction at right angles to the first mentioned direction ofreciprocation. Stated in an alternative manner, the frequency ofreciprocation in one direction is a multiple of or many times thefrequency in the other direction. This motion provides a laying of thecontinuously fed ribbonlin horizontal rows with a zigzag pattern. Byadjusting the reciprocal movement imparted to the receptacle in eachdirection in accordance with the structural dimensions of the receptacleand the width of the ribbon, the receptacle can be filled substantiallycom pletely and compactly with the textile ribbon so as to preventsubsequent entanglement of the ribbon resulte ing from shifting thereofin the receptacle.

`One means for achieving this result is to mount the platform for thereceptacle for reciprocal movement relative to an intermediate support.The intermediate support is, in turn, mounted upon a base support` forreciprocal movement relative to the base support in a direction at rightangles to the reciprocal movement of the platform relative to theintermediate support. The frequency of reciprocation in one direction isconsiderably greater than inthe other direction so that the ribbon islaid in horizontal rows across the width of the box, each horizontal rowbeing in a zigzag pattern.

A specific embodiment of a. packaging machine contemplated by ourinvention is illustrated in the drawing wherein:

Fig. l is a side elevation in cross-section of the embodiment;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the embodiment; and

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along section 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, the thread ribbon R isted to the packagingmachine by means of a pair of cooperating, rotatably-driven driverollers 1, 2. These drive rollers are positioned above a parallelepipedreceptacle 3, in this case a cardboard carton of conventionalconstruction, by positioning the carton directly under the rollers on acarton-supporting platform composed of rollers 4 rotatably journalled inend bearing supports 5. The platform is further composed of an `openframed having rectangular side panels 7-the bearing supports 5 beingmounted on said side panels 7. rl`he receptacle 3 remains stationarywith respect to its support platform during a given `packaging operationand, if necessary, a frictional drag for each of the rollers 4 may beused to prevent accidental shifting of the receptacle 3 on the rollers 4during the packaging operation. The major purpose of `the rollers 4 isto facilitate the initial installation and removal of the carton at thebeginning and end of the packaging operation.

The carton supporting platform is mounted for reciprocal movement inVone direction with respect to an intermediate support, designatedgenerally at 19 `in the drawing,`by mounting the lower edges of thestraight side panel 7 of the open frame 6 in freely rotatable, aligned,peripherallygrooved rollers 8 rotatably-mounted in supports 9 on theintermediate support 1t).

The drive for reciprocating the frame 6 with respect to theintermediatesupport 1t) is achieved by providing a cross bar l1 extending betweenthe side panel '7 of the frame 6. The cross bar `11 has an enclosed slot12 `into which extends `the shaft of a bolt 13, the bolt, in

lrrn 15. The rocker arm is pivotally mounted at 16 on a bracket 17 ofthe intermediate support 10. The shaft of the bolt 13, riding in theslot 12, imparts a linear motion tothe frame 6 along the rollers 8 whenthe .rocker arm 15 is pivoted. -By oscillating the arm 15, vreciprocalmotion is imparted to the frame 6 and, hence, to the carton 3 supportedthereon. A pivoted position of the arm 15 is illustrated at 15 in Fig.2.

To impart oscillating motion to the arm 15, there is provided a drivecomposed of a pin 19, which rides in a slot 18 at the end of the arm 15.The pin 19 extends upwardly from the top of a U-shaped, motion transferfork 20, whose legs form a slot 21 extending vertically ,between theupper and lower flights of a pair of chain drives 22, 23. These chaindrives 22 and 23 are iden- Vtical and are positioned in side by siderelationship. Each chain drive is supported on a sprocket 24 mounted forfree rotation on support 26 at one end and on the other end by drivesprocket 25 mounted for rotation on support 27. The two chains 22 and 23have extending therebetween a cylindrical rod 28, which rides in theslot 21 of the motion transfer fork 20. As the chains move the rod 28 inone direction along the upper flight of the chains and in the otherdirection along the lower ilight .of the chains, the rod 28 imparts areciprocating motion to the transfer fork 20, which, in turn, oscillatesthe rocker arm 15 by means of the connection of the latter with themotion transfer fork through slot 18 and pin 19. The drive position ofthe rod 28 when it is on the lower ight of the pin drive is shown inphantom at 28 in Fig. 1.

In order to accommodate the packaging machine for lling receptacles ofvarious dimensions, the amount of reciprocal movement imparted to theframe 6 can be adjusted by positioning the bolt 13 at various points inthe slot 12 of the cross bar 11. As the bolt 13 is moved toward thepivot 16 the length of the reciprocal motion imparted by the fixedoscillating pattern of the rocker arm 15 becomes less. It becomesgreater as the bolt 13 is positioned in the slot 12 at greater distancesfrom the pivot 16. The details of one means for adjustably positioningthe bolt 13 on the rocker arm 15 will be describer later with respect toa similar rocker arm 66, this description being equally applicable tothe rocker arm 15.

The chains 22 and 23 are driven by a motor 29, whose rotating shaft isconnected with the drive sprockets by means of a V-belt 32 drivinglyconnecting cone pulleys 30 aud 31. These cone pulleys have a pluralityof grooves of different diameter for providing a variable speed drive inaccordance with the positioning of the V-belt 32. These variable speeddrives are further means for varying the frequency of reciprocalmovement of the frame 6. Other equivalent drives, such as variable speedgear drives may be substituted for the V-belt drives illustrated.

The pulley 31 has a direct drive connection with one of the sprockets25. However, inasmuch as the space between the sprockets 25 must be leftfree to permit movement of the motion transfer fork 20 therebetween, itis not possible to connect the other sprocket 25 by an axial shaftextending thereto. Accordingly, the drive from the pulley 31 to thesprocket 25, remote therefrom, is achieved by a spur gear drive,including a connecting shaft 33 extending between the chains at aposition lower than the lower edge of the motion transfer fork 20. Thegear drive will be described in later detail with respect to sprockets50 and 57. The gear mechanism in the drive arrangement between thepulley 31 and the sprocket 25, remote therefrom, is designated generallyat 38 and 39. This description is equally applicable to the driveconnection between the two sprockets 25 with the pulley 31.

.Up to this point there has been described a unit which W1ll impartreciprocal motion in one direction to a receptacle 3 mounted on asupport platform. However, in order to lay the ribbons in horizontalrows, it is nec- A-essary to provide a reciproca-.l motion to the`receptacle 3 in a direction at right angles to the reciprocal motionimparted by the mechanism heretofore described. One way of achievingthis function is to construct the intermediate support unit 10 of a baseplate 34 having side walls 35 and a partial top wall 36, having thereinan opening 37. This structure forms a housing for the chain drive andpower connections therefor and enables the whole unit, including thereceptacle supporting platform composed of the rollers 4 and frame 6, tobe reciprocated in a direction perpendicular to the reciprocal motion ofthe framey 6.

The reciprocal motion of the intermediate support 10 is accomplished byproviding aligned rollers 40 on the bottom surface of the base plate 34.These rollers ride in parallel, linear grooves 41 provided in the uppersurface of inwardly turned flanges 42 and 43 of the hollow base support44.

A power drive is employed to reciprocate the intermediate support 10 onits rollers 40 by an electric motor 45. The drive shaft of the motor 45drives a cone pulley 46, which, in turn, drives the cone pulley 47 viathe `\!-belt drive 48. The V-belt 48 and cone pulleys 46 and 47 providea variable speed drive for driving sprockets 5d and 57. The sprocket 5t)is rotatably driven by the pulley 47 by means of a direct drive shaft49. l However, it is not possible to extend the drive shaft 49betweenthe sprockets 5t) and 57 because this shaft would then interfere withmovement of the U-shaped motion transfer fork 63. The drive for thesprocket 57, accordingly, is constructed to avoid interference withmovement of the motion transfer fork 63 by mounting on the shaft 49 aspur gear 51, which, in turn, drives spur gear 52. The drive imparted tospur gear 52 is transmitted to spur gear 54 by connecting drive shaft 53positioned lower than the lower end of the motion transfer fork 63. Spurgear 54, in turn, drives spur gear 55 at a rate of revolution equal withthe rate of revolution of the spur gear Ioil-the gears 51, 55 and 52,54, respectively, being identical. The spur gear 55 rotates the sprocket57 at a rate of revolution equal with the rate of rotation of thesprocket 50 va connecting drive shaft 56.

Sprockets 51 and 57 drive parallel chains 5S and 59, respectivelyweachchain passing over a freely rotatable sprocket of identical constructionwith the sprocket 24. The chains 58 and S9 travel at an equal velocity.The gears 51, 52 and shaft 49 are rotatably journalled in a gear housing60 and the gears 54, 55 and shaft 56 are rotatably journalled in a gearhousing 61.

The chains 58 and 59 are employed to reciprocate a U-shaped motiontransfer fork 63, which rides on a pin 62 extending between chains 5S,59. The operation of the motion transfer fork 63 is identical with theoperation of motion transfer fork 20. The motion transfer fork 63 hasextending from its upper surface a pin 64, which rides in slot 65 of arocker arm 66, which is pivoted at 79 on bracket 71 inside the supportbase 44. By this construction, the to and fro movement of the pin 62imparts an oscillating movement to the rocker arm 66. An extremeposition of oscillation is shown in Fig. 3 in phantom at 66.

The oscillating motion of the rocker arm 66 is translated into linear,reciprocal motion of the intermediate support 10 by a sliding connectionof the shaft 68 of bolt 67 in an elongated slot 69 provided in the baseplate 34. The shaft 68 of the bolt presses against the side walls of theslot as the arm 66 oscillates and thereby imparts a linear, reciprocalmotion to the intermediate support 10.

inasmuch as the length of reciprocal movement 'of .the intermediatesupport 10 and corresponding reciprocal movement' of the receptacle 3must be varied in accordance with the inner dimension of the container3, means is provided to vary the amount of reciprocal travelv impartedto the intermediate support 10. This functionV is accomplished by makingthe bolt 67 removable and providing means for positioning bolt atvarious points 'to the base support.

n3 fal'ong the length of the' rocker arm 66. One of the ways f providingthis function is to secure the bolt 67 to the rocker arm 66 by means ofa nut 72-the bolt extending through an aperture 73 in the rocker arm 66.By providing a plurality of holes 73 along the length of the rocker arm66, the bolt 67 may be positioned at variable points along the rockerarm 66 to change the length of reciprocal movement imparted by theoscillation of the rocker arm 66. As the bolt 67 is mounted in holescloser to the pivot 7 0, the length of reciprocal travel imparted to theinterme- `date support 1i) will become less, and vice versa.

Thus, by providing variable speed drives between the motor and chains inthe intermediate support l@ and the base support 44 and also byproviding adjustment in the length of reciprocal movement imparted tothe frame 6 and the intermediate support by rocker arms 1S and `66,respectively, the packaging machines of the instant invention can beadjusted to accommodate the packaging of various widths of ribbons inparallelepiped containers or receptacles of various rectangularcross-sections. By selection of the proper drive speed for the chainsand the proper position of the bolts on the rocker arms, the receptaclecan be substantially completely filled, without void spaces along theedges, by the continuous ribbon laid in the container inva plurality ofhorizontal, convoluted rows 75, each row 75 containing juxtapositionedsegments of the ribbon R placed in said rows in zigzag fashion.

When the container 3 is filled with the ribbon to the desired height,theneXt container 76 (shown in phantom) is placed on the rollers 4 andpushed underneath the feed rollers 1, 2 in place of the receptacle 3. Bydisplacing the container 3 with the following container 76, thepackaging is continued in the container 76 without interruption of thefeed of the ribbon. The ribbon in the two containers is then separatedby severing at a convenient point.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that other modificationsof the generic invention herein disclosed may be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope thereof. For example, a single drive motor maybe employed to perform the drive functions of the separate motors 29 and45 shown in the embodiment in the drawing, this drive being connectedwith the chain sprockets by variable speed drives from a common shaftdriven by said motor. These variable speed drives may take the form ofpulley drives or may be adjustable speed gear drives. The furtherqualification of such drives from a common motor is the provision of aslidable drive connection or a flexible drive connection, which willpermit relative movement of the intermediate support l@ with respect tothe base support 44. Also, in place of the chain drives and connectinglinkage for translating motion of the chain drives into reciprocalmovement of the platform and the intermediate support, there may be useddouble pitch worm gears which drive a follower connected with theplatform and/or the intermediate support for imparting reciprocalmovement thereto. The double pitch Ifollowers have la left hand andright hand thread, well known in the art, which automatically reversesthe direction of the travel of the follower at each end of the doublepitch thread. Also, a single pitch worm gear .-drive may be used, whichworm gear drive is driven by a 4of the platform with respect to theintermediate support and/ or the travel of the intermediate support withrespect Other modifications will occcur to those skilled in the art forcarrying out the basic objective ,of the invention, the reciprocalmovement of the sup- ;receptac1e in tightly packed, horizontal layers.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows: f U,-

1. In a machine for packaging articles in the `form of a ribbon inparallelepiped receptacles, a platform adapted to support a receptacleto be filled with an article in the form of a ribbon, means forreciprocating; said platform in a linear direction of travel, additionalmeans for reciprocating said platform in another linear direction oftravel at right angles to the first-mentioned direction of travel andstationarilypositioned roller means above said platform for feeding saidarticle to a receptacle supported on said platform during reciprocationthereof, one of said means for reciprocating being; operable at afrequency of reciprocation which is a multiple of the frequency ofreciprocation at which the other means for reciprocation is operable.

2. in a machine for packaging articles in the form of a ribbon inparallelepiped receptacles, a platform adapted to support a receptacleto be filled with an article in the form of a ribbon, an intermediatesupport, means for mounting said platform for reciprocal movement onsaid intermediate support, drive means for reciprocating said platformwith respect to said intermediate support, a base support, means formounting said intermediate support on said base support for reciprocalmovement of said intermediate support with respect to said base supportin a linear direction at right angles to the relative reciprocalmovement of said platform with respect to said intermediate support,drive means for reciprocating said intermediate support with respect tosaid base support, and stationarily-positioned roller means above saidplatform for feeding said article to a receptacle positioned on saidplatform, one of said drive means being operable at a frequency ofreciprocation which is a multiple of the frequency of reciprocation atwhich the other drive means is operable.

3. The packaging machine of claim 2 wherein each of said drive meansincludes a driven chain having substantially at flights, means attachedto said chain at a given point thereon for travel with said chain, andmotion transfer means cooperating with said last-mentioned means fortranslating the movement of said last-mentioned means in the path ofchain travel into a reciprocal drive for said platform and saidintermediate support, respectively, of the machine.

4. The packaging machine of claim 2 wherein each of said drive meansincludes a pair of parallel, driven chains having substantially fiatupper and lower flights, a pin attached to and extending between saidparallel chains, and means for translating the motion of said pin duringdrive of said chains into a reciprocal drive for said platform and saidintermediate support, respectively.

5. ln a machine for packaging articles in the form of a ribbon inparallelepiped receptacles, a platform adapted to support a receptacleto be filled with an article in the form of a ribbon, an intermediatesupport, means for mounting said platform for reciprocal movement onsaid intermediate support, an oscillating rocker arm below saidplatform, drive means for oscillating said rocker arm, connecting meansbetween said rocker arm and said platform for translating theoscillating movement of said rocker arm to linear drive for saidplatform by said rocker arm, a base support, means for mounting saidintermediate support on said base support for reciprocal movement ofsaid intermediate support lwith respect to said base support in alinear' direction at right angles to the relative reciprocal movement ofsaid platform with respect to said intermediate support, drive means forreciprocating said intermediate support with respect to said basesupport at a frequency of reciprocation which is a fraction of thefrequency of oscillation of said rocker arm, and stationarily-positionedroller means above said platform for feeding said article to areceptacle positioned on said platform.

6. In a machine for packaging articles in the form of a ribbon inparallelepiped receptacles, a platform adapted to support a receptacleto be filled with an article in the form of a ribbon, an intermediatesupport, means for mounting said platform for reciprocal movement onsaid intermediate support, drive means for reciprocating said platformwith respect to said intermediate support, a base support, means formounting said intermediate support on said base support for reciprocalmovement of said intermediate support with respect to said base supportin a linear direction at right angles to the relative reciprocalmovement of said platfrom with respect to said intermediate support, anoscillating rocker arm below said intermediate support, drive means foroscillating said rocker arm at a frequency of oscillation which is afraction of the frequency of reciprocation at which said drive means isoperable, connecting means for translating the oscillating movement ofsaid rocker arm to linear reciprocating drive for said intermediatesupport by said oscillating rocker arm, and stationarily positionedroller 'means above Said platform for feeding said article to areceptaclev positioned on said platform.

7, The machine of claim wherein the drive means for said oscillatingrocker arm comprises a driven chain Vhaving substantially flat upper andlower flights, means attached to said chain at a given point thereon fortravel -With said chain, and a motion transfer fork cooperating withsaid last-mentioned means for translating the movement of saidlast-mentioned means in the path of chain travel into an oscillatingdrive motion of said rocker arm.

8. The machine of claim' 6 wherein the `drive means for said oscillatingrocker arm comprises a driven chain having substantially flat upper andlower flights, means attached to said chain at a given point thereon fortravel with said chain, and a motion transfer fork cooperating with saidlast-mentioned means for translating the movement of said last-mentionedmeans in the path of chain travel into an oscillating drive motion ofsaid rocker arm.

9. In a machine for packaging articles in the form of a ribbon inparallelepiped receptacles, a platform having a frame on which issupported a plurality of rollers lying in a horizontal plane, saidrollers adapted to support a receptacle to be filled with an article inthe form of a ribbon, means for reciprocating said platform in a lineardirection of travel, additional means for reciprocating said platform inanother linear direction of travel at right Yangles to thefirst-mentioned direction of travel at a frequency of reciprocationwhich is a multiple of the frequency of reciprocation at which saidfirst-mentioned \me'ans is operable and stationarily-positioned roller aribbon in parallelepiped receptacles, a platform having a frame on whichis supported a plurality of rollers lying in a horizontal plane, saidrollers adapted to Support a receptacle to be filled with an article inthe form of a rib- Vbon, an intermediate support, means for mountingsaid platformv for reciprocal movement on said intermediate support,drive means for reciprocating said platform with respect to saidintermediate support, a base support, means for mounting saidintermediate support on said lbase support for reciprocal movement ofsaid intermediatersupport with respect to said base support in Va lineardirection at right angles to the relative reciprocal movement of Saidplatform with respect to said intermediate support, drive means forreciprocating said intermediate support with respect to Said basesupport, and stationarilypositioned roller means above said platformvfor feeding said article to a receptacle positioned on said platform,one of said drive means being operable at a frequency of reciprocationwhich is a multiple of the frequency of reciprocation at which the otherdrive means is operable.

l1. In a machine for packaging articles in the form of a ribbon inparallelepiped receptacles, a platform adapted to support a receptacleto be filled with an article in the form of a ribbon, means forreciprocating said platform in a linear direction of travel, additionalmeans for reciprocating said platform in another linear direction oftravel at right angles to the first-mentioned direction of travel, oneof said means for reciprocating being operable at a frequency ofreciprocation which is a multiple of the frequency of reciprocation forwhich the other means of reciprocating is operable, andstationarily-posi- Vtioned feed means above said platform for feeding ina substantially constant vertical path an article in the form of aribboninto a container supported on said reciprocab-le platform.

12. In a machine for packaging articles in the form of a ribbon inparallelepiped receptacles, a platform adapted to support a receptacleto be filled with an article in the form of a ribbon, an intermediatesupport, means for mounting said platform for reciprocal movement onsaidintermediate support,ndrir 1eV means for reciprocating said platformwith respect to said intermediate Support, a base support, means formounting said intermediate support on said base support for reciprocalmovement of said intermediate support with respect to said base supportin a linear direction at right angles to the relative reciprocalmovement of said platform with respect to said intermediate support,drive means for reciprocating said intermediate support with respect tosaid base support, one of said drive means being operable at a frequencyof reciprocation many times the frequency of reciprocation at which `theother drive means is operable, and stationarily-positioned feed meansabove said platform for feeding in a substantially constant verticalpath an article in the form of a ribbon into a container supported onsaid reciprocable platform.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,321,834 Lyth Nov. 18, 1919 1,390,253 Tscherne Sept. 6, 1921 2,468,834Nash May 3, 1949 2,604,687 Broden July 29, 1952 2,741,009 Slayter et alApr. 10, 1956`

